Whole Foods Goes Local

Whole Foods, the big green grocer, has pledged $10 million in loans to small farmers that operate near and supply its 193 stores in North America. John Mackey, co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, said the program is a way to "Walk our talk." "We believe this financial assistance of $10 million a year can make a very significant difference in helping local agriculture grow and flourish across the United States," he said in a press release. When it comes to energy consumption, food can be a big one. The average food product travels some 1,500 miles before it reaches the plate, a fact that has ignited a long-running debate about whether conscious consumers ought to buy local or organic. That's what makes strategies like this smart - it combines the easy shopping experience offered by a big grocery store with organic and local products.